


or- 



O 






THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. 






u^i.i^.'^M . r,iL/ 



Tt:T 



The following chapter is one"of a series of " Sketches from the History of 
the U. G. R. R.," which will he published in book form. It comprises a full 
account of the secret workings of that far-famed institution known as the "Un- 
derground Railroad." The original copy is owned by the American Eye 
Salve Co.* 



Sketches from the History of the 
UiidergToiiiid Railroad, 

No. VIII. 

GEORGE AND CLARA. 

Among the exciting incidents con- 
nected with the U. G. R. R., no case 
excited our sympathy more than that 
of George and Clara, George had 
been his young master's body servant, 
was of medium height and fine propor- 
tions, intelligent, respectful, and un- 
commonly efficient in business. Clara 
was his sister; she had been lady's 
maid, and had never been overtasked 
with hard work. Both of them had 
seen a good deal of polite society, and 
availed themselves of such advantages 
as came in their way to acquire infor- 
mation and some of the rudiments of 
an education. They were polite and 
respectful in their manners, and were 
as contented and happy as people in 
their condition could be, and perhaps 
they would have remained in slavery 
rather than run the risk of the terrible 
punishment they knew awaited them if 
they should be captured, had not her 
master sold Clara to a trader, who 
boasted that he cotxld sell her in New 
Orleans for $3,000. His excuse for 
selling her, when his family remonstrat- 
ed, was that she was insolent and re- 
fused to obey him. Tiie usual remedy 
for such fault having failed he sold her ; 
the particular thing in which she diso- 
beyed he said little about, — whatever 
it was, it had not reduced her inarhet 
value. 



A peculiar affection had always ex- 
isted between the brother and sister, — 
few slaves had as many comforts and 
advantages as George, yet he loved his 
sister more than all other things, and 
when he heard that she was sold, and 
her probable fate, he decided at once 
to save her or die in the attempt. 
Having traveled with his master, he 
knew the roads, and what was of more 
im])ortance, he knew many slaves in 
most of the towns along their route. 

From the time they started from near 
the capital of Kentucky until they ar- 
rived at a noted U. G. R. R. station, 
within a few miles of Lake Erie, was 
many weeks, yet there was hardly an 
hour in which they were not in immi- 
nent danger of being captured. Major 
Cuitis, their master, employed Bill 
Shea, the most noted slave catcher in 
the State, to aid in capturing them, but 
George managed to throw the dogs off 
the track. They Avent southeast, then 
turning northeast they got into the 
mountains, and after four weeks they 
crossed the Ohio river near Parkers- 
burgh in AVest Virginia. Our enter- 
prising conductor near that tou'n had 
them in charge before they crossed 
over. TJie pursuit was so ^lot and well 
conducted that although tiieirtrack had 
been often lost, it had been as often 
recovered, and the conductors were 
many times driven to their wit's end in 
eluding the pursuers. When they ar- 
rived at the aforesaid station, they 
were safe for the time; they might 
stay there, for they were well secrered, 



♦ Entered according to Act of Congress In the year of our Lord 1869, by Pettit & Babkeb, in the Clerk's 
Office of the Northern District of New York. 



E4-6'o 




AN INFALLIBLE REMEDY FOR 




Ulceration of the Lachrymal Glands, 

FILM AS^D WEAK^JESS OF VBSiOS^ FROM ANY CAUSE. 




DIRECTIONS FOR USING THE EYE-SALVE. 

Apply the salve two or three times a day to the Eyelid, closeti 
and to its edges and the corners of the Eye, by rubbing it on geulli 
with tlie finger until absorbed, in quantity to each Eye, half the sizi; 
OF A WHEAT CORN ; also, to the temple near the Eye. In bathing in 
the Salve, pass the finger from the inner to the outer angle of the Eye, 
over the lid. Be careful not to rub it back and forth, as that tends to 
uTitate the smface. 

Should a copious discharge of Matter or Tears follow a few of the 
first applications, it shouW je regarded as a favorable symptom, ratlier 
than otherwise. In such cases a less quantity and more ti-equent, should 
be applied to the surfaok of the lid only, and gently bathed with the tinger several minutes. 
A healthy action, the arousing of which caused the aforesaid 63auptoms, will soon get the 
mastery of the disease. Before each application, let the Eye be cleansed with milk and water, 
or soft water, and be carelhl to keep the bowels regular by the use of vegetable cathartics. 
In violent, acute inflajimation, apply the salve to the whole siu'face of the lids in large 
quantities, to cover them on going to bed. If it comes in contact with the eye-ball it is not 
injurious. In the morning, cleanse and pursue the course first above, and to a cure. If dis- 
ease is not arrested by the first night and day's application, repeat the same next night, and 
the third. When arrested, ajiply as first above, in small quantities, remembering in all cases 
the directions in regard to tlie bowels. 

■WARIIANTY,— These dhections being followed without fovorable results, the agent 
will refund the price paid, on return of the box. 



Is presented to the public with assurance of its eflicacy as a curative of most diseases of the 
Eye; of acute or chronic infiammation, whether induced by scrofulous origin or otherwise; 
weakness or defect of vision, diminished tone of the optic nerve, or a diseased state of the 
tissues constituting that delicate organ. Also, for all persons whose vocation requires an in- 
cessant action of the eyes, the Eye-Salve will act as a chai-m in restoring a uniform healtliy 
action, where weakness, pain and misery may have long threatened a fatal termination. 

It is the most simple, safe and effectual remedy ever discovered. The materials of which 
it is made are pure, perfect ;md costly ; compounded with elaborate care and exactness; safe 
in its application, being used externally, and of course avoiding the pain and danger which 
necessarily attends the introduction of caustic minerals and eye-washers. 

RINGWORM and OLD CHRONIC SORES, of scrofulous origin, or resulting from what^ 
ever cause, yield to the cleansing and healing power of PETTIT'S AJVIERICAN EITE-SALVE. 

First, '^;leanse the sore with a weak solufion of saltpetre ; then apply the Eye-Salve, 
spread on soft cloth. Dress once or twice a day. To seciu-e a permanent cm-e of Chronic 
Sores, some aV^rative medicine should be taken while tbe sore is healing. 



TRADE MAUk, 



O^^ I // > the Cover of each Box, 



PETTIT'S AMERICAN EYE-SALVE has the "trade mark" on 
lover of each Box. 

I^^ALL OTHERS ARE SPURIOTJS^^l 

B, M, PETIIT, Supf, 



SKETCH OP THE UNDERGEOUND RAILROAD. 



besides, slave hunters themselves were 
not ill a safe place if found prowling 
about Oberlin College. 

Curtis Avas determined to capture 
them at all hazards. He employed 
spies at difterent ]wints along the line, 
and at all the Lake ports from Cleve- 
land all the way to Buifalo. lie stayed 
at Cleveland, but Bill was setting his 
traps along the line. As soon as it was 
supposed that the pursuit had been 
abandoned, George and Clara were 
started east along the line, with a sharp 
lookout ahead. The spies had been 
outwitted, and the fugitives had passed 
this point, when a dispatch came along 
the line, (not by telegraph, no wires 
had then been put up,) that all the cros- 
sings at Buffalo, Black Eoc7<: and Ni- 
agara Falls icere unsafe. 

They were then hidden away until 
an opportunity offered to smuggle them 
in disguise on to a steamboat at her 
first stopping place, on her way from 
Buffalo to Detroit. When the boat 
came to the dock it was 10 o'clock in 
the evening, and when the crew com- 
menced " wooding up," two new hands 
dressed as sailors came from among 
the wood piles, and though somewhat 
awkward, they worked with all their 
might, and when the wood was all 
loaded, they went aboard with the sail- 
ors, and were soon on their way. 

Meanwhile Bill Shea, Curtis' accom- 
plice, having been baffled, had returned 
to Cleveland to consult with Curtis. 
They decided to abandon the pursuit, 
and take the first boat for Sandusky, 
thence by stage to Cincinnati. The 
boat on which our fugitives had taken 
passage was one of the finest sidewheel 
steamers on the lake, commanded by 

Capt. T , a very popular captain, 

and the same who was in command of 
the Erie when she was burned off Sil- 
ver Creek. The boat stopped at Cleve- 
land for passengers, and just as she 
was starting off, Curtis and Bill came 
running and jumped on board. When 
they called at the office to pay their 
passage to Sandusky the clerk said, 
" We do not stop there, we run to De- 
troit direct." " Well Major," said Bill, 
"we are in for it, I guess it's your 
treat," and they passed down toward 



the bar. Bill could never pass anybody 
witlunit looking to see if they answered 
the discrij)tion of some slave advertise- 
ment of wliich he had liis hat full. In 
pursuit of this laudable object, he 
stopped to look at two individuals 
dressed in sailor costume, seated among 
the bales of freight. At tht- first glance 
he knew his man. Stepping back, he 
seized the Major and turned him al)Out, 
saying "There he is ; Maj., if that isn't 
George, may I never see Lize again or 
have a nibble at her corn dodgers." 
Curtis looked at them, recognized both, 
and said, "Bill, the other one is the 
girl, dressed up in sailor toggery." By 
this time the fugitives had seen and 
recognized their pursuers, and were so 
agitated that they coidd not utter a 
syllable. Curtis walked up to them 
and said, " How do ye do ? got into 
business, ha? how do you like it? 
wasn't aware that you understood this 
business. Clara could do better with 
women's clothes on. Come, go with 
me, I'll introduce you to the captain ; 
it would be the making of this boat to 
have you in the ladies' cabin. I should 
think by your appearance that you are 
sick of the business and may be you 
would like to go home ; if so, you can 
go with us, as we are going right back. 
How lucky for you that we happened 
to meet." The talk was embellished 
with horrid oaths, and continued a 
long time without a word in answer 
from the frightened fugitives. 

Capt. T happened to be passing 

and stopped to witness the scene. He 
had seen and heard it all. When Cur- 
tis saw him he said, " Well, cajitain, I 
am in luck this time ! IIei*e I have been 
chasing these slaves of mine up and 
down this Lake shore about a month, 
and finally lost track of them and start- 
ed for home. Bill and I ha^ e, I fear, 
committed a sin in swearing about get- 
ting on the wrong boat, and now it ap- 
pears that a kind providence has di- 
rected our steps all the time with- 
out our asking. How long have they 
been in your employ ? One of them is 
a girl ! didn't you know it ? " When 
he" stopped and gave a chance to ans- 
wer, the Captain said, " I know notli- 
ino; about it. I saw them here this 




In offerins: this article to the public, tlie proprietor takes the liberty to say that a class of 
diseases incident to the Hoof of the Horse and destructive to the use of the animal, or greatly 
depreciating his value as a roadster, may be cured by a proper and discreet application of 
Uie Hoop Ointment, or, tliat which is better, if applied fei proper time, may be prevented . 
The horse which is kept on dry food, and when at rest stands on a dry floor, is liable to a 
feverish state of the foot, causing the hoof to become contracted, hard and brittle, and con- 
sequently liable to crack, forcing an unnatural pressure upon the Navicular Joint, Coffin 
Bone aiid Bars. The delicate frame-work of the foot becomes diseased, and the horse if 
crippled and stiff in his movement, and often becomes useless or nearly so to his owner, tc 
prevent which, a more rapid growth of the horny portion of the foot needs to be excited 
and tlie hoof rendered more soft and elastic, and brought to its original shape and size. Tc 
effect this, the Hoop Ointment should be applied to the Coronary Ring, (the point betweer 
tJie hair and hoof), once in three days. In a few days the hoof will become soft and elastic 
and an entire new hoof, sound, smooth, and of its original shape, will be grown in from thre( 
to six months ; during which time the horse may be kept at moderate labor, due attentior 
being given to his shoeing, leaving out the nails toward the heel. 

Prevention Better than Cure- 
By applying the Ointment two or three times per month, the inflammatory action whicl 
causes the disease will be abated, and a sound and healthy hoof constantly secreted. Car( 
Bhonld be exercised, and his floor and bed kept clean and dry as circumstances will allo-w 
Sand and Quarter Cracks require no other treatment than the application of the Ointmen 
as directed. Cutting the foot above the crack should never be allowed. Apply the Oint 
ment and allow the horse to stand quietly upon a dry clean floor until the new hoof ha 
grown an inch or more, when, if desired, he may be put to moderate work, but not to han 
drafts. 

The proprietor deems it useless to add Testimonials and Certificates, thinking it sufficien 
to say, " Try it at his expense if it fails to do as he promises." He will state three case 
which came imder his own eye, and which he can vouch for or substantiate. •'• 

SAPID CRACKS. 

The first is of a Quarter Sand Crack. The hoof was cracked from the shoe to the haii 
and along the coronary ring to the heel, and the entire quarter was loose. By treating i 
with the Ointment as directed, the horse was put to work in four weeks, and has not lost 
day's work in eight months since. His foot now (March, 1854) is sound and smooth, an 
pronounced by his blacksmitii to be as soft, tough and pliable a foot as he drives a nail in. 



The second case is of the Thrush. The horse's foot seemed to be entirely rotten, and tli 
stench arising from it was so bad, that the blacksmith almost refused to shoe him. By ap 
plying the ointment as directed, the disease was entirely cured by loosing the diseased fro 
and its dropping ofl'and forming a new, sound frog, perfectly healthy. 

CONTRACTED FEET. 

The third case is of Contracted Feet. This case seemed to baffle the usual practice c 
taking off" his shoes and letting him run to pasture for a season, for when taken up and hi 
shoes put on, his feet seemed to grow worse instead of better; in fact, he became useless 
and almost worthless. Two months application enlarged his feet to their natural size, an 
the horse can be driven to the top of his speed witliout flinchmg, upon the plank or pave 
ment. 

The Hoop Ointment, in addition to its soothing and healing qualities, has a tendenc; 
-constiintly to secrete and excite a more rapid groAvth of the crust or wall of the foot, an 
thus overcome tlie effects of standing upon dry floors, hard driving upon pavements am 
plank roads, either of which tend to dry up, harden and make brittle the hoof, causing fre 
-quent shoeing, thus continually cutting off the hoof and leaving the horse without that whic. 
Natiu-e gave him to stand upon. 

I»3FtXCJ:E3, SO CJIESIN'TS- 

All orders for Br. PETTIT'S IMEDICINES, addressed to 

PETTIT & BARKER, Central Avenue, 

Fredonia, Chautauqua Co., N. Y. 



SKETCH OF THE UNDEUGUOU^TD RAILROAD. 



ollavs to land mc and the niggers in 
[ichigan." 

Capt. — " I can't do it without wood." 

Curtis. — " I sliall hold you to your 
romise." 

Cajit. — " Of course you will, I'll land 
Du, I did not promise to land your 
iggers." 

Curtis now began to swear and use 
i-utal laniruatre when Capt. T- 



Capt. 

>ld him to stop that or he would have 
im arrested as soon as they should 
)uch the wharf. 

George and Clara were among the 
ands at the gangway, as they had 
?en uistructed by the mate, and when 
10 plank was thrown out they ran into 
le town, Curtis and Bill after them, '' 
•ying " Stop thief! " in great excite- 



ment. If they had taken time to 
think, they would not liave ventnred 
on shore ; as it was, they were roughly 
handled, and glad when they found 
shelter on the boat again. 

Some two years after, I was on a 
steamboat from Detroit to Ckiveland ; 
we stopped at Maiden for wood, and 
while there I fell into conversation witli 
an intelligent man, arid inquired if he 
knew George and Clara, relating some- 
thing of the above incidents. He said 
he knew them ; they were })rospering 
in business and much respected. He 
said that he saw the chase in the 
streets, and gave a very amusing ac- 
count of the way the Kentucky gentle- 
men were handled. 

Conductor. 



PETTIT'S EYE SALYE 



WILL CURE ANY CASE OF 



1= I L E S . 



PETTIT'S EYE SALYE 



WILL CURE ANY CASE OF 



OHIILBXjJLIlsrS 



^ETTIT'S CANKER BALSAM 



WILL CURE ANY CASE OF 



isTTJiE^siisra- soi^E ivdioxjTH:. 



TESTH^OIsri^LLS. 



Gentlemen— I enclose you this letter (one 
of many,) believing it my duty to do so, that 
you might know the reputation Pettit's Eye 
Salve is gaining in this section. I have sev- 
eral letters from other parties who have used 
it, they all speak in the same terms of the 
Salve.' Very Respectfully, 

D. V. McCoBKLE, 
Druggist, Chattanooga, Tenn. 
Athens, Tenn., Jan. 27th, 1869. 
D. V. McCokkle, Esq., Chattanooga, Tenn. 

Dear Sir.— I enclose one dollar for four 
boxes more of Pettit's Bye Salve, per mail. 

It is gradually restoring the eyes of my 
daughter, who has suffered with sore eyes 
for more than two years, and after we had 
tried almost everything else and failed, includ- 
ing cauterization of the lids. For six months 
before commencing the use of the above Eye 
Salve she was almost totally blind, could 
only discover the bulk of a person in the 
doorway ; but can nov.% after a little more 
than a month's use of it, tell the hour on the 
face of the clock, and it seems that she will 
certainly be fully restored to sight. It is cer- 
tainly a wonderful change under Providence 
after years of suffering. 

Very Truly Yours, 

A. H. Gregory. 



Sharon, March 6th, 1867. 
American Eye Salve Co.: — Please find 
enclosed one dollar and thirty cents, for which 
please send the worth of it in Dr. Pettit's 
American Eye Salve, as I think it the best 
medicine for "the eyes tliat I have found, and 
if it continues to do as well as it lias done it 
is likely I shall send for more to use in prac- 
tice. Please send it all in one box, as it will 
come some cheaper. Please direct to " James 
Randolph, Sharon, Noble Co., O." 
Respectfully Yours, 

JAMES RANDOLPH. 
Save enough to pay postage. 



E. M. Pettit, Sup't American Eye Salve 
Co. :— For the enclosed 25 cents please for- 
ward me a box of the American Eye Salve. 

Two years ago I was very much troubled 
with weak and inflamed eyes : I obtained a 
box of your Salve, and to my great pleasure 
found that it was all that it was recommend- 
ed, and now send for another box. 
Yours Respectfully, 

iliss LAURA A. MALLORY, 
Hamden, Del. Co., N. Y. 

Register Office, U. S. Treasury, 
Jan. 23, 1868. 

American Eye Salve Co.— Please find en- 
-closed 35 cents, for Avhich send me a box of 
Dr. Pettit's Canker Balsam. 

1 have been buying the Eye Salve, which 
my wife finds helps her eyes more than any 
thing she ever used before, and I have bought 
two boxes and sent North to her sister. 

I called on all Druggists here for the Bal- 
aam, and they have none. Two have written 
to New York for it, so they say, but have 
not received it. 

'' 1, now make direct applicatioti to you, 35 
cents for Balsam, and ten cents for postage, 
sent by mail. Please re-nit on receipt of en- 
closed. Yours, 

Wm blasland. 

P. S. — Balsam, not Salve. 



Double Pipe Creek, Carroll Co., ]\Id. 

Dec. 12th, 1867. 
American Eye Salve Co., Fredonia,N. Y. 
— Enclosed please find one dollar and seven- 
ty-five cents ($1.75), for which please send one 
dozen boxes Dr. Pettit's American Eye Salve, 
to the address below. I sold him one box 
some time ago, and now he wants a dozen 
boxes for himself and friends. He says they 
won't do without it; that it is the best Eye 
Salve they ever used. 

Yours Respectfully, 

WILLIAM H. RENNER. 

Send to the address of " Levi Baker, Johns- 
ville, Frederick Co., Md." 

Weatherly, Carbon Co., Pa. 
June 1st, 1868. 
AjfERiCAN Eye Salve Co.— Having open- 
ed a Drug Store in this place, I would like to 
keep some of your Eye Salve for sale. Hav- 
ing used it myself, I can recommend it favor- 
ably. I would like to have one dozen boxes 
to begin with ; Iwill send you the money on 
receipt of goods and bill, or you can send 
them C. O. D. 

Hoping to hear from you soon, I am your 
obd't serv't, 

DR. J. B. TWEEDLE. 
Weatherly, Carbon Co.. Pa. 



South Hadley Falls, Mass., April 12, 1869. 

American Eye Sala-e Co. — I enclose $3.00 
and want you to send me some Eye Salve. 
I had some from you last summer and it did 
wonderful cures. It cured sore eyes for 
eight persons that were nearly lilind for a 
long time. My friend, Horace White, was 
visiting me two years ago. I had sore eyes, 
and he sent me one box by mail and it cured 
me. Send by Express, 'fruly yours, 

E. C. WHITE. 

Note : Horace White of Laona. — Am. Eye 
Salve Co. 



PETTIT'S EYE SALVE. 



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